penthouse
concealed by a duco panel where it turns the corner. The panel has been used to install a TV, with the space under the staircase becoming a storeroom of sorts and housing the electricals as well. ‘The treads of the staircase at ground level double as seating when required, the glass railing on the upper part being almost invisible,’ says Mahesh. On the upper floor, a bedroom opens out onto the terrace to create one expansive space. ‘This private terrace lounge was introduced after the preliminary discussions, in order to transform the apartment and enable it to impart the feel of a spacious bungalow,’ says Mahesh. Used mostly as a leisure or hangout space, this floor
has wooden flooring. ‘The tactile and visual differences between the flooring of the two levels helps in defining the language for the formal public space at the lower level, while ensuring the private and cozy environment of the upper level terrace lounge. On the lower level, the shining and smooth materiality of the floor tile creates a textural contrast with the bold and warm finish of wooden furniture. The same “textural contrast” of floor tile and furniture gets reversed at the upper floor, where the white duco painted bed is highlighted against the dark and warm wooden flooring,’ says Mahesh. The terrace has a pergola, with bamboo plants and
a temple tree. ‘The plants enhance the visual and emotional serenity of the space, while the pergola casts slowmoving light and shadow patterns through the day, silently animating the terrace,’ says Mahesh. A long horizontal slit was created in the wall at the far end, to provide a view of the city and a mountain range at the far horizon. This home is simultaneously warm because of the wood tones, and serene due to the extensive use of white. Greenery brings in nature in small doses, softening the ambience. Studio Frozen Music has followed the basics of good design in the detailing and visual language of the house, sans gimmicks of any kind. IO
86 • inside outside september 2017
The terrace has a pergola which casts slow-moving light and shadow patterns through the day, silently animating the terrace. The long horizontal slit in the wall at the far end provides a view of the city and a mountain range at the far horizon.